The Department of Defense announced today the
death of thirteen soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died
December 21, 2004, in Mosul, Iraq, when their dining facility was attacked.
Killed were:

For further information related to this release,
contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

A Pennsylvania man who was among the 22 killed
in an explosion at a crowded mess tent in Iraq on December 21, 2004, died
only because it was a sneak attack, his stepmother said.

“If he were on a field of combat, this never
would have happened,” said Claire Karpowich, stepmother of Sergeant First
Class Paul D. Karpowich. “He was ambushed in a mess hall surrounded with
his friends. He was glad to be back at Camp Marez because he was out in
the field for two weeks. This was the first time he had a hot shower and
good meal.”

Karpowich, 30, grew up in Freeland, in northeastern
Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County, but had been living in the Philadelphia
suburb of Bridgeport, Pa., and worked as a salesman and consultant with
Eye Design in nearby Collegeville.

Freeland Mayor Tim Martin said as the word
of Karpowich’s death spread through the small community, the previously
upbeat mood was dampened.

“You expect to see people walking down the
street wishing each other a merry Christmas,” Martin said. “People were
asking, ‘Did you hear what happened?’ It was a very somber mood.”

Karpowich’s death was the first for the Rochester,
New York-based 98th Division since its deployment this fall, Maj. Timothy
Hansen said.

The non-combat unit, which traditionally trains
reservists and active-duty soldiers, hadn’t deployed overseas since World
War II. About 725 soldiers were called up to assist with training Iraqi
security forces.

Karpowich was a drill instructor with the division’s
1st Battalion, 417th Regiment, 1st Brigade in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Karpowich
began his military career as an active-duty soldier with the 82nd Airborne
Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Karpowich is survived by his wife. He was described
by the division as an avid hunter and fisherman.
Posted: 14 January 2007 Updated: 4 March 2007